The Code of Conduct signature form has resurfaced. At least in our area. The forms were passed out to everyone who attended a Chapter & up meeting last Thursday in San Jose.
I attended the Monterey Area World Peace Prayer last week. A district leader gave an experience about discovering her mission. OK, she started a business. Raw food. She wore a t-shirt with the name of her company and several times mentioned that there were flyers in the back. She shamelessly promoted her business after the meeting, too. No one stopped her. No one corrected her. I wonder if she has signed the Code of Conduct form. I wonder if she has read the Code of Conduct. I wonder if she would understand that her behavior was exactly why we have that Code of Conduct.
Last spring, the Japanese pioneer women were selling tickets to a Japanese variety show at WPP. They shamelessly tried to intimidate members into buying tickets. No one stopped them. No one. I wasn't there this year, but did witnessed it last year.
So, what's the use of having every leader sign off on the Code of Conduct? At the meeting I attended, leaders were just signing the form. I suspect they never read the actual Code of Conduct. They just signed what was put in front of them. I need to go back to the Leadership manual and try to figure out who is responsible for explaining Code of Conduct infractions to these leaders. I have no relationship with the woman promoting her raw foods business at WPP. I didn't feel it was my place to explain it to her. But then the Area Leaders didn't say anything. Her Chapter leaders didn't say anything. What good is this piece of paper we are supposed to sign?
Greg and I were please, at first, to see the Code of Conduct in the leadership manual. Then we started having discussions about it on FWP and we started having second thoughts. Before Greg died, we decided we like the Code of Conduct, but not the signature form. Why do we need to sign? In these two examples I have shown that signing the form doesn't mean anything.
Hey, everyone, we're having a Tupperware party instead of a meeting. You are all invited!
SGI members and leaders - what are your thoughts on this?
It's November of a really bad year. I'm looking for a victory before the end of 2008. The Presidential election has been over for a week. It seems longer. My leg is healing very slowly. I have very little pain and no problem walking, but need to change the dressings twice a day. The swelling has not gone down much so I wear the same pants, socks and Berkinstocks every day. Last week I bought new pants, but my lower leg is still swollen and the pants are tight. Last night we found some new socks that will work. The thing I'm dealing with now is antibiotics. This is the second round in a month and they're making me sick to my stomach. I have to remember to eat first!
A couple of weeks ago I attended a Sophia Group meeting about an hour away from home. Sophia Group is a women's study group. They usually study something different than the district study material. Every group goes it's own way. Sometimes everyone reads the same book and it works like a book club. Sometimes everyone brings in something to share. Whatever works for that specific groups is OK. So I attended this meeting in Sunnyvale, CA. There were 8 women and I was blown away. Eight very well read, intelligent, diverse women who talk about anything. It was so refreshing to hear women talking with confidence and world experience. I'm going back next month. It works out because it's just 10 minutes away from the park where Kaela trains.
Last Thursday the family went to San Jose to the Silicon Valley CC to a meeting with Cliff Sawyer, the MD leader of the West Territory of SGI. Our family feels at home at the SVCC. Everyone knows us and we are all so happy to see each other. I've known Cliff for my entire practice. We have the same hometown. His mother was the first member in town. He is a good guy. He has done so much for the org., but doesn't take himself seriously. He has a friendly conversational manner. He talked about the state of the organization in somewhat urgent terms. He talked of leaders leading instead of managing. Being busy doesn't mean you are changing anything. Promote members. Don't wait until they are ready, just get everyone involved. I know some of you don't like the idea of everyone having a position. But some members need the position to feel connected.
He also talked about the youth Division. My kids just can't stand most meetings. Hell, I can't stand most meetings. So this month is November General Meetings to celebrate the origins of the SGI. I'm letting the YD plan the meeting. A few things need to be included, but they can do whatever they want. My biggest hurdle will be the WD who give lip service to supporting the YD, but won't like their plan. I'm excited to see what they put together. It will be a fun meeting.
Last night we went to a leaders meeting for our area. My goal was to suggest some YD leadership appointments. Funny thing, someone beat me to it. My older daughter wants a position in our district. I told her she doesn't practice. She told me the meetings are boring. I told her she is now in charge of making more interesting meetings. It's strange how my kids just got involved. We explained Nichiren Buddhism to them and they heard us talk about it their entire lives, but it took another family with two daughters to get them involved.
Kaela has been sick for more than a week. School makes her sick. Her friends have the same teachers and have been collecting her school work. She'll have all that done in a couple of days. Then she's going to Japan the end of this month and will miss another week of school. We are working with her councilor and have plans in place to fix this. Life as a single parent... it's a new challenge.